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Easter celebration passes smoothly in restive Maluku
Jakarta Post, 4/15/2001 6:25:10 PM
JAKARTA (JP): Easter celebration passed smoothly across the country on Sunday, with almost all churches praying for the safety of the nation in their Sunday eulogy amid the country's continuing conflicts and crisis.
In Ambon capital of riot-torn Maluku province, people were celebrating Easter in a modest but cheerful ceremonies beginning from late Saturday up to Sunday.
"We are gathered here in the spirit of unity," newly-elected chief of Maluku Protestant Church (GPM) Rev. Broery Hendriks said on Sunday.
"And concerning the latest situation in the Malukus, the GPM is reaffirming its stance against separatism and all kinds of such movement, including to the now-defunct Republic Maluku Selatan (RMS) separatist group. No matter how hard, Maluku will remain part of Indonesia," he said.
Thousands of people gathered in both Catholic and Protestant churches in Ambon, praying for peace for the island that has seen the bloodiest violence for over two years which so far have killed some 8,000 people.
Tight security, however, was deployed in Ambon city to avoid possible unrest or ambush from rioters.
Similar Easter celebration also took place in Atambua area of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province with around 4,000 Christians gathered in churches in the pre-dawn mass near the border of East Timor, Antara said.
In Central Java, people living in remote area of Merapi volcano of Magelang regency also celebrated a modest Easter ceremony.
"Political disputes, economic turmoil and ongoing riots continue to hit the country and we ought to help each other to get through these crisis," Catholic priest V. Kirdjito was quoted by the news agency in the Easter mass in Magelang.
The last eruption of Merapi took place in February with ash rain and heat clouds but no fatalities were reported. (edt/49)
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